The family of major league pitcher Carl Pavano told police that a former Southington High School classmate was trying to extort money and a luxury SUV from Pavano by threatening to reveal personal information about him, according to a search warrant affidavit filed by police earlier this month.

In the affidavit, Pavano’s sister, Michelle DeGennaro, said Christian Bedard, 36, of Southington, was “attempting to extort monetary funds for his fabricated, false information” and that he believes he can hold the Pavano family “hostage” with the information.

DeGennaro filed a complaint with Southington Police in December, after receiving messages from Bedard she considered harassing on the social networking site Facebook, The messages included demands for a luxury SUV.

“The only way your brother is getting out of this… is with a heart-felt apology and a navy Range Rover with tan leather,” Bedard said in one message to DeGennaro.

Police seized a laptop and a journal from Bedard’s Hunting Hill Drive home last Wednesday, but have not charged him with any crime. The warrant allowed police to seize documents naming Pavano and any computers used to send Facebook messages. It stated materials collected would constitute evidence in an investigation into second-degree harassment and first-degree criminal attempt to commit larceny.

Southington police said Wednesday they are not releasing information about the ongoing investigation. The Record-Journal obtained the search warrant affidavit Wednesday from Bristol Superior Court.

In an interview Monday, Bedard said he was writing a journal as a way of giving closure to what he said was an “emotional and physical relationship” between him and Pavano which lasted for three years while the two were high school classmates.

“I’m sure they don’t want any of this getting out there,” Bedard said Monday.

DeGennaro called Bedard’s contention that he had a relationship with Pavano “clearly false” and an attempt to “extort her family,” according to the affidavit. Bedard told DeGennaro that he had a $1.2 million book deal.

“That is my best offer, an apology and a Land Rover and I’ll kill the project,” Bedard wrote.

In a later message, Bedard said he rescinded the offer and said “the book is the best deal.” He also mentions his mother Elaine Bedard’s political connections and the fact that she is a local police commission member.

“What’s even better is my mom’s the police commissioner and there is an open file on you already,” Bedard said to DeGennaro in a Facebook message, according to the affidavit. Elaine Bedard, who is also Democratic town chairwoman, said Monday that she has nothing to do with the police investigation, which police confirmed.

Christian Bedard has a number of convictions, including for third-degree burglary, first-degree reckless endangerment and driving under the influence, according to the state Judicial Branch website.

He said he sent a letter to the Pavano family in November informing them that he was considering publishing his journal as a book and offering a chance for them to look over the material. He said he got no response.

Asked about the search warrant affidavit Wednesday, the Bedards declined comment. Carl Pavano’s parents, Carmen and Ann Pavano of Southington, could not be reached Wednesday. On Tuesday, they said they had no comment on the search of the Bedard residence.

DeGennaro did not return calls for comment. Pavano couldn’t be reached Wednesday and messages to his agent and the Minnesota Twins baseball team were not returned. Pavano is expected to be the Twins starting pitcher when they open their season April 6 against the Orioles in Baltimore. He previously played for the New York Yankees, among other teams. His four-year Yankee contract paid him nearly $40 million.

To be honest, given all the electronic/digital devices and media out there today, I think this type of stuff is going to be the wave of the future.